Rebecca Hankins, one of the editors of Islam and Science Fiction Project is an Appointee for Member, National Historical Publications and Records Commission by President Obama. Congratulations to sister Rebecca for this wonderful milestone. Here is here bio for reference:

Rebecca Hankins is Associate Professor, Curator, and Librarian for Africana Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Arabic Language at Texas A&M University, where she has worked since 2003. Ms. Hankins was Assistant Librarian and Archivist at the University of Arizona from 2001 to 2003 and Archivist at the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University from 1988 to 2001. She is also a Regent for Exam Development for the Academy of Certified Archivists and a Distinguished Fellow of the Society of American Archivists. Ms. Hankins received a B.A. from Loyola University New Orleans, an M.L.I.S. from Louisiana State University, and is a Certified Archivist with the Academy of Certified Archivists.

We’ve had some time to reflect on the election results. Some are happy that their candidate won others are not. To be honest I am just glad its over. What happened, happened. This election cycle has been insane. I stopped watching after the first debate and relied on Stephen Colbert to keep me up to date. After the results were announced I went through stages of shock, reflection, and analysis.

My findings? as Neil deGrasse Tyson so eloquently tweeted take the cosmic perspective. Some would say that this is high-brow and only an aloof fool would look to the stars for solace when fires burn around him. I beg to differ. I would encourage each and every Man, Woman and Child to take the cosmic perspective. Humble yourself and draw closer to your creator.

Didn’t work? You still want to move to Canada? Or even better, how about a posh Gulf Country? Sure why not, would be easier. Heck while we are at it why not leave this rock altogether? We could join Elon Musk on Mars and restart civilization. Give it a few generations and we will be right back where we started! But then again, what if?

Remember last month’s post where I gave you story prompts from Islamic History? Well, prompt number six really resonated with me.

Pakistan was a nation formed on the basis of Islam. People of different ethnicities banned together to form one nation. In an age where space colonies are within practical reach, what would a colony populated by Muslim refugees look like?

I decided to explore this notion. At the same time, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. You see I am an adult male I can write characters similar to me easily. So I decided to join a unique writing course. Storied Women, is an online course being offered by the University of Iowa. The point of which is to create stories with female protagonists. My first assignment was to write a scene with a female child. The end result was custom made for ISF readers, so here goes:

A Hiss at the Front PortalBY SAQIB SADIQSidra woke with a tear in her eye. It rolled down her plump cheek, softly nestling itself behind her ear. The sensation drew her out of her sleep. Through blurry eyes, she tried to comprehend her surroundings. “What was that?” she thought to herself. Still cringing from the image her mind’s eye gave her. She knew it wasn’t real, it’s hellish cry was gone.Her eyes began to focus. The bright colors of her ludo board greeted her. It was just the way she left it last night. Her pieces had all safely finished while her brother’s hadn’t. And it better stay that way or else baba would know.She rubbed her brown eyes and gave a satisfied yawn. Where was Ummy? She was always doting on her. Brushing her hair, washing up for breakfast. Her hair was already pretty tangled. And would tug when she ran her fingers through it.Another yawn and she slipped out of her warm bed. Still groggy she carefully made her way to the mirror. Seeing no sign of Ummy she decided to brush her own hair. And why not? She needed to learn. She was getting older after all. Yanking old hairs from the spikes she began to brush. First one side than the other. All the way to the ends. She slipped on a hairband and walked out the room.The capsule corridors were strangely quiet. There usually was a clattering of plates from the dining node. The morning breakfast already consumed. Thinking nothing of it she made her way to the bathroom. Soothing pulses helped to get rid of grime that had formed on her earth-toned skinned.Peeking out in the corridor she called out “Ummy?” hearing no response “Baba?” still no response she considered calling her brother’s name but decided against it. She needed her breakfast first. Skipping along she made her way to the dining node. To her surprise breakfast was neatly laid out. The fluffy stack of parathas beckoned while the savory chickpeas tantalized.Pinching off a small piece of fried batter she scooped up some chickpeas. The warm spices and buttery goodness melted in her mouth. Her stomach rumbled and she fed it more. Having her fill, she stepped out of the dining node.Where was everyone? It wasn’t even Friday afternoon, so where could everyone be? Feeling annoyed she returned to her room. Her crayons and pencils neatly laid out on her desk. She began tracing figures. Images of people fleeing. Running scared through the streets. Shattered glass. And it. She stopped unable to continue. How dare it invade her daydream? Wasn’t it bad enough to possess her nightmares?More tears. She made her way to the ludo board. Maybe she should let her brother finish. Maybe that would make him come back. I should get up early to help ummy in the kitchen maybe that’s why she isn’t here. And baba I should help him with his books more often. I promise to do this I just want everyone back.But she was alone. And now she knew it. What do I do?Beep…beep…beep…The family’s com panel was chirping. She made her way over. Lines of text scrolled by. Baba knew what to do with that. She walked away and headed back to her room. She didn’t want to draw anymore. She didn’t have anyone to play ludo with and her dolls were boring. She sat on the floor head slumped and propped up by her arms. She rolled her eyes looking around the room. Not sure what to do next she closed her eyes.She woke to a darkened habitat. Panic stricken she hollered for lights. In response, the rooms and corridors were illuminated. She still couldn’t breathe right. She swept her eyes back and forth. “Ummy, baba, bhai!” no one replied. She bawled. Knocking the ludo pieces across the floor. Tearing her drawings asunder.Beep…beep…beep…She screamed smashing at the panel controls. A face appeared. “My dear are you alright?” she bawled some more. “I thought this sector was evacuated…standby” and just like that, the face was gone. She slumped against the corridor wall, too weak to cry too tired to scream. Her legs gave out allowing to slide down to rest on the floor.Sniffling she wiped her tears. Now, what? She drew her knees in and rested her cheek. She must have done something really bad for everyone to leave her. Maybe she shouldn’t have yelled when baba asked her to clean her room. Or maybe she should have cleaned up after she spilled salan on the kitchen floor. And she definitely shouldn’t have called bhai names.Sirens began to wail. Kinetic rumbles, blinding light. The habitat stood. She didn’t like the sounds. Not one bit. She had heard them before. But that’s when she had baba to read her books. She would tell her not to worry and that it would all be over soon. She wished he was around to tell her now.A hiss at the portal. White suited figures. Engulfing her. Helping her with a suite of her own. Whisked away. She could see the habitat falling out of view. More kinetic rumbles followed by horrible flashes.“Ummy!”“Beti!” the two hugged each other. Clinging to one other sobbing relentlessly. Bhai and baba comforted them both. Sterile white lights and sanitized floors did nothing to lessen the warmth of the moment. Surrounded by loving arms Sidra was home again. Even bhai was a sight for sore eyes.“You can beat me at ludo anytime, ok?” She laughed for the first time in a long time.“Okay.” She nestled her head in ummy’s lap“Who did your hair?” she mumbled on stroking long black strands“Sidra.”“Baba?”“I am sorry.”“Don’t be. I was supposed to clean my room and I didn’t that’s why everyone left me”“No Sidra.” He chocked, a finger placed on his lips “I am just glad they found you.” Confused by the outburst she did not know what to think. Kissing her father’s cheek, she told him not to worry. In return, they all huddled together hanging onto each other for dear life.

Let me know what you thought in the comments below. There is more to Sidra’s Story, I plan on learning more about her with each assignment. I will let you know where to find her complete story in the coming weeks. But more importantly tell me what you came up. Which prompts resonated with you? Why were those your favorite prompts? Let us know in the comments!

Aziz M. Osman is a Malaysian director who has directed a number of Science Fiction movies in the Malay language. Here is a sample of a few of them:

XX-Ray is a Malaysian Science Fiction movie directed by Aziz M. Osman which came out in 1992. It has been called Malaysia’s Back to the Future. It was followed by a sequal in 1995 and the third installment in the series is in works now as of 2016. The first movies revolves around the discovery of a device that allows one to see through things and also allows one to be invisible. The second movie involves time travel to the time of the Malay Kingdoms and the legendary Malay Hero Hang Tuah. The third movie will be released in 2017.

IO9 announced in 2009 that he is working on another science fiction movie but there does not seem to be much information in it on the net, here is the synopsis from the straight times via IO9.

CE1 is set in modern Malaysia, revolving around a teen genius named Zaki. His interest in robotics and mechanical engineering isolates him from his peers and the villagers. The boy finds solace in a joint project with another person to create the first-ever Malaysian android robot. The android, CE1, bears witness to the boy’s rite of passage, his first love, and his many accomplishments and misadventures. It also starts to harbour ambitions of its own.

Kim Stanley Robinson is considered to be on of the greatest living Science Fiction authors. He has have a plethora of awards including the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the Nebula Award for Best Novel and the World Fantasy Award. His most well known works are the Mars Trilogy, Years of Salt and Rice, Aurora and 2312. Here is my interview with Kim Stanly Robinson.

MA Ahmad: What was your inspiration behind writing Years of Salt and Rice?Kim Stanley Robinson: This was simply an idea for an alternative history that occurred to me when I was young. It seemed to me that alternative histories should try for a balance between maximum difference between our history and the alternative one, while also being simple to explain and also still comparable to our history (thus a completely different evolution is a different kind of story). So when I had the idea of the Black Death killing almost all the Europeans in the early 15th century, this struck me as making a rather huge change in all subsequent events. The problem was finding a form for any novel that could do justice to the idea. So I held onto the idea from the 1970s through the 1990s, and after I wrote my Mars trilogy I felt I had worked out a novel form that could traverse hundreds of years and still work as a novel, so I started Years of Rice and Salt. By then I had realized that one aspect of this different world should be the lack of a single hegemony, so that it wasn’t just a simple replacement for European hegemony, but more complex. Thus the idea that China, Islam, India and the North American natives might all survive and flourish without one ever completely dominating became my preferred alternative history to portray.

MA Ahmad: One of the themes that recur in your novels has been described as how nature and culture reformulate one another, how do you think religions will be affected with new technologies and advances in Science?
Kim Stanley Robinson: It depends on the religion, I guess. The Dalai Lama has declared that if science ever shows something in Buddhism is wrong, then Buddhism should change. I don’t see the Middle Eastern monotheisms making that kind of declaration. We are now in a scientific civilization, but it’s been coming for centuries and during those centuries, some religions have regarded science as a particular form of worship or devotion. I think that might be the best angle for them to take, to make a reconciliation of fact and value, etc.

MA Ahmad: In your various novels you have given different visions about how the future of humanity may look like, which of the scenarios do you think is likely to come true?Kim Stanley Robinson: None of them will come true exactly, that isn’t what science fiction is really doing. Sf is a matter of scenarios with thick texture, which adds to their conceptual and entertainment value. Right now the future could become anything from a complete disaster to a thriving sustainable civilization, and it isn’t possible to say which will happen; we have to choose and enact what will really happen, year by year.

MA Ahmad: Given the current social and political climate of the world, what are the responsibilities of a Science Fiction author?Kim Stanley Robinson: I think it’s to portray a wide variety of possible futures, in stories that explore how history happens and exposes possible courses of action for evaluation. It’s a real responsibility, which is shared by all art, which is to create meaning out of human existence, but sf has the extra burden and pleasure of exploring futures explicitly.

MA Ahmad: Given the political and social turmoil in the world large and Muslim world in particular what is your advice to Science Fiction authors and futurists working in the Muslim world?Kim Stanley Robinson: This is a tough question. I think of Orhan Pamuk’s young Muslim sf writer in his novel SNOW, struggling to find his starting point in the absence of a flourishing genre to work with and against. Writers need a genre to serve as a kind of sounding board, amplifier, opponent, and so on. No one can do the work of science fiction alone, it is a communal project. So, in this case, I would venture that there needs to be a lot of Muslim science fiction of all kinds, exploring and displaying all kinds of futures. It would be helpful to the imaginations of everyone alive, and a real service to humanity. We all need futures in our heads to work toward or against, and the more there are, and the thicker their texture (to add to their believability and impact) the better. It’s a huge opportunity for young writers.

MA Ahmad: What are the projects that you are currently working on?
Kim Stanley Robinson: I’ve just finished a novel describing a big sea level rise following on climate change, centered on lower Manhattan, which has become something like a super-Venice, and describing a kind of financial revolution leading to a post-capitalist global economic order.

Now I’m thinking about China and again, and the future relationship between China and America. I think I need to go at this one from an American angle, being an American—I don’t have the same boldness that I did when I wrote The Years of Rice and Salt, or maybe I just want this particular angle to make my story go. We’ll see after I’ve visited China, which I will do for the first time later this year.

]]>http://www.islamscifi.com/islam-and-sci-fi-interview-with-kim-stanley-robinson/feed/2Hay Festival Dhakahttp://www.islamscifi.com/hay-festival-dhaka/
http://www.islamscifi.com/hay-festival-dhaka/#commentsFri, 21 Oct 2016 15:25:28 +0000http://www.islamscifi.com/?p=2175Continue reading Hay Festival Dhaka]]>This is a couple of years old but I have gotten it as a reference from multiple people so I thought I should post it for reference. Thanks to Hal H. and Ellen K. for the pointer. While it doesnt go into much detail, it does give one some hints of whats going on in Bangladesh in terms of Speculative Fiction, and curiosity is everywhere. Source: Daily Star

From left: Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Hossain Zillur Rahman, Lucy Hawking and Marcus du Sautoy discussing how to make science popular for the children and youth. Photo: Probir Das

The most stereotypical image of a scientist in films is of a person with a big head doing bizarre experiments in his mysterious, underground laboratory. However, it is the very mystery associated with science that fascinates the young mind. When the three celebrated figures of science and science fiction Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Lucy Hawking and Marcus du Sautoy came to the dais there was hardly any vacant seat in the huge auditorium of Bangla Academy. For an hour, the Hay Festival premises turned into a festival of science enthusiastic youngsters.

Hossain Zillur Rahman, moderator of the programme gave an apt introduction: “Science education in our school is a matter of great concern. But the overwhelming presence in the ‘Science Matters’ session should be an example of our youth’s interest in science.” Then it was the celebrated panellists who started to decode how they engage the young children’s mind to catch the difficult scientific realities such as Big Bang, the beginning of time etc. Lucy Hawking, the author of highly popular George’s Secret Key to the Universe series says, “When I write sci-fi for children, I try to make it entertaining and accessible. But without breaking any rules of physics which my father (Stephen Hawking) ensures when I work with him on my books!”

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal is the legendary figure of writing science fiction in Bengali. Thanks to his writings and contributions to science education, hundreds and thousands of Bangladeshi youngsters now say that their favourite subject is mathematics and physics. But as Zafar Iqbal says writing science fiction in Bengali is rather a tricky business. He says, “Bengali is a very different and poetic language. In English if you want to say I love you, you have to place these three words in order. But in Bengali you can permute the words ami tomake bhalobashi (I love you) in different ways and every way will be correct. So writing science fiction in this language brings a very different challenge to the writer.”

But this impressive group of panellists faced the real challenge during the question answer session. Besides a lot of lively queries there were tricky questions such as “Are religion and science related”. Some students asks what happened during the Big Bang and one of them says, “Isn’t it only faith which explains what exists before the Big Bang?”

The question-answer session turned into a lively debate. But before the young scientists in the audience came to a conclusion about the beginning of time, the time limit of the session came to an end. However inquisitive minds are seldom satisfied. As Marcus du Sautoy says, “Inquisitive mind and imagination are the most important to learn science. We will discover our future Einstein and Ramanujan among these inquisitive young minds.”

]]>http://www.islamscifi.com/hay-festival-dhaka/feed/1Top 10 story ideas from Islamic Historyhttp://www.islamscifi.com/top-10-story-ideas-from-islamic-history/
http://www.islamscifi.com/top-10-story-ideas-from-islamic-history/#commentsSat, 15 Oct 2016 16:07:04 +0000http://www.islamscifi.com/?p=2146Continue reading Top 10 story ideas from Islamic History]]>Last month we talked about what makes a good Sci-Fi story. Today we are going to talk about what to write about. At IslamSciFi we obviously want to see more Islamic SF. So where can we get our inspiration? Well if you subscribe to the blog’s twitter account you will see posts that do just that, behold:

Notice how we can take inspiration from Islamic History? For the past 1400 years, Islamic Civilization has produced some intriguing individuals. Everyone from warriors, saints, poets, lovers you name it we have it. And the political intrigue that they have been involved in is worthy of any Game of Throne episode. That’s why I am so excited by the book Lost Islamic History by Firas Alkhateeb. A non-partisan look at how Islamic Civilization grew from the Prophet’s (PBUH) time. Up to and including the present day. It is a fascinating read and helps put perspective on current events.

But the artist in you can take things further. Dr. Naif Mutawa has done just that. Take a look at the origin story for The 99. Notice how it revolves around Hulagu Khan sacking Baghdad? Needless to say, this was a pivotal moment in Islamic History. Likewise, I would love to see the following events extrapolated upon. What kind of stories can you come up with?

1. Islam spread to sub-Saharan Africa thanks to indigenous guides. They lead traders and scholars through the harsh desert. This reminds me of the Fremen from the Dune stories. Can you come up with a similar story using Saharan guides?

2. If Islam Spread beyond Spain and entered France, what would be the impact? Remember France is considered to be the cultural center of European life. It was a real possibility that Europe would have become Muslim, due to French influence. In a parallel world, this could have happened what would life be like in Muslim Europe? What would be the impact on world events?

3. Muslims were also captured at the height of the slave trade. But they had an advantage. They knew Arabic, a language that their captors couldn’t read or write. So It gave them the means to discretely communicate with each other. This resulted in 300 slaves revolting in the state of Bahia, Brazil. But alas they did not succeed. What would it be like if they were successful? Could their rebellion spread to the American colonies? Would there have been a need for a Civil War if there were no Slaves in the United States?

4. Zheng He, a Chinese admiral who commanded ships much larger than Colombus ever had, was able to reach India. What’s more, he belonged to the Hui people, a Chinese ethnic group that adheres to the Muslim faith. What would a space faring Zheng He look like?

5. European Imperialism once dominated the world. Of note is the East India Company. What if they never left? What if the people of India never gained their independence? What would this world look like? How different would it be from ours?

6. Pakistan was a nation formed on the basis of Islam. People of different ethnicities banned together to form one nation. In an age where space colonies are within practical reach, what would a colony populated by Muslim refugees look like?

7. Mansa Musa, the richest man in history had a disruptive effect on local economies. He flooded towns and villages with gold. While making his way to Mecca. What would it be like to travel in his caravan? Can that experience be recreated with a space-faring civilization?

8. Ibn Battuta left his home to explore the known world. How would a future day Ibn Battuta look like?

9. In the Dune universe, Melange plays a central part in the economy. From what we know this spice is a stimulant that increases mental capabilities. Furthermore, it is only found on the desert planet of Arrakis. In our world, the closest parallel is caffeine in the form of coffee. First introduced by Yemeni Muslims in the 1400s. What would the world look like if Yemen was the only source of coffee?

10. We now have Muslims in space. Which raises some interesting Fiqh (jurisprudence) issues. Such as how to determine the position of Mecca to offer daily prayers. I explored this issue in my stories and I would love to see what you come up with!

So there you have it. Plenty of inspiration to get started. For further research do pick up the book or visit Lost Islamic History. And as always stay tuned to this spot for more Islamic SF!

Bio: Ada Barbaro earned her Phd in Geopolitic and Culture of the Mediterranean Area from the Italian Institute of Human Studies – Naples in 2011. She worked as fellow researcher in Arabic Language and Literature at the Institute of Oriental Studies (ISO) at University of Rome “La Sapienza”. Lecturer in Translation from Arabic into Italian at UNINT (University of International Studies) in Rome, she specializes in modern and contemporary Arabic literature. She published translations from Arabic into Italian of both novels and short stories and she wrote essays on contemporary Arabic fiction. She devoted herself to the study of the most recent literary genres written in Arabic with a special attention to the science fiction production. She published her book La fantascienza nella letteratura araba (Science Fiction in Arabic Literature) in 2013 (Carocci, Roma).

M. Aurangzeb Ahmad: Other than the Arabian Nights which is relatively well known in the West, what are the antecedents of Science Fiction or proto-Science Fiction in the Arab world?

Ada Barbaro: In my book “La fantascienza nella letteratura araba” (Science fiction in Arabic literature) I devolve an entire chapter to the origins of SF in Arabic literature. As in every literary history of science fiction, we can find the seeds of this literary production, in fact, in many canonized works belonging to the Arabic tradition. If we accept that these forms of expressions are just the substrate for this kind of production, in terms of “marvellous, fantastic, utopian”, we can find proto-science fiction elements in the so-called tradition of aja’ib (mirabilia), dating back, for example, to the Persian philosopher al-Qazwini. In this production we recognize the same sense of wonder that characterizes sf in general. We can also refer, in a certain sense, to some philosophical works such as Hayy ibn Yaqzan by Ibn Tufayl or the so-called Theologus Autodidactus by Ibn al-Nafis where the idea of sf lies behind the contruction of a perfect man, who lives in a state of nature, who can overcome the nature’s laws. Also the tradition of Sirat Antarah and Sirat al-Malik al-zahir, – and in this way I answer to the second question too – that are connected to the fable world, seems to express a tension to a fantastic world that, in a certain sense, survives also in sf. If we want to notice a real non-Western influence in sf in Arabic, we can underline that the same sense of wonder characterizing the tradition of mirabilia is recognizable also in the so-called Kitab al-khiyal by Banu Musa. In closing, as many scholars have already done, we have to admit that, in a certain sense, all the utopias are science fiction, when the utopian world is considered as an exercise of an hypothetical sociology and political science. And the Arab tradition is full of examples of utopian works, starting from al-Madina al-fadila by al-Farabi until, asa far as the modern era in concerned, at the production by al-Manfaluti, al-Marrash, Farah Antun, etc.

M. Aurangzeb Ahmad: What kind of theme figure dominantly in Arabic Science Fiction and how have the themes changed over the course of time?
Ada Barbaro: When I decided to devote myself to the study of this particular field of research, after a full immersion in a multifaceted production, I found two keys-reading, Space and Time, and I discovered that the most explored themes in Arabic sf are the same that we can recognize also in the Western production. There is a dominant search for eternal life, the so-called theme of al-khulud, that, of course, assumes a particular nuance in a Muslim background (generally speaking, because there are writers overthly atheists) – dominated by the presence of God and a sort of Pantheism. The Arab world created different means to express this theme, such as the elixsir vitae, the hibernantion, reincarnation and so on. Of course progress has gradually changed the expression of these themes, where technological devices allowed human being to transcend the limits of space and time. In the same way the representation of another recurrent theme of Arabic sf changed, i.e. the desire of escaping from reality, the will of exploring other places when human being can live in peace.

M. Aurangzeb Ahmad: Has the Arab Spring had any impact on Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction in the Arab world?
Ada Barbaro: The Arab Spring, as every historical and political event, has undoubtedly influenced science fiction and, in general, the production of novels. But this is a change that happened also after 11th of September 2001 when a sort of taste for techno-thrillers and terroristic fiction spread in the literary world and also among the Arab writers. After the Arab spring, nowadays we can find many novels that we can insert in the frame of the dystopian novel. These works give voice to a sense of dramatic disappointment or delusion for the results of this revolutionary movement. So the dystopian novel seems to be the best way to express this sense of sadness, because it describes a world where the utopian dream of a better society nourished by the beginning of the revolts has been replaced by tragic events. In these worlds described by the Arab authors all the human fears seem really to come true.

M. Aurangzeb Ahmad: What do you foresee as the future of Science Fiction in the Arab world?
Ada Barbaro: I’m looking forward to recognize a definitive acceptance of this genre in the Arab literary production. I think that the past problems connected to the language, the themes, and the literary canon have been overcome (I hope so). There is a future for this genre in the Arab world, and many novels published in the recent years prove a sort of change, both in the sense of an interest by the academic world and the publishing houses policies and in terms of reception among the readers. We have to advocate and encourage the birth of a serious movement of translation, in order to allow the Arab sf novel to overcome the borders of the Arab countries. This movement could also be a way to destroy common stereotypes connected to the Arabs. Arab writers are ready to explore this genre, expecially because in sf a social and political value lies: it represents the most appreciated quality of Science fiction in general.

M. Aurangzeb Ahmad: What contemporary authors of Arabic Science Fiction do you recommend that people should read in order to get a better view of this genre?Ada Barbaro: In my opinion people should read authors like Noura al-Numan (her novels are about sf), Ahmad Khalid Tawfq (even if his best known novel is a dystopia), Basma Abdel Aziz, even if her novel “The Queue” represents a dystopian and surrealist fiction.

The Islam and Science Fiction project has two new contributors, Marianne Edwards Saqib Sadiq who bring unique set of skillsets to the team. Marianne is a writer and a therapist based in France, while Saqib is a Business Analyst and a teacher at an Islamic school as well as a lifelong geek. Lets welcome both of them to the site. Cheers!

Hello, Readers! So happy to be blogging on IslamScifi. This will be my debut post and I am super excited to get started so that I can hear from you and get to know you better. From my bio, you will come to know that I write my own Islamic SF stories. That’s why I was eager to throw in my hat in the recent Islamicate Short Story contest. Who was selected or not selected is beside the point. What was humbling was the number of submissions. This shows that there is a community of writers who are inspired by this genre of fiction.

Which is wonderful but I want to raise the bar. That’s why I am reviewing Robert Silverberg’s Science Fiction 101. I adore this book as it gives readers a how-to guide to writing science fiction. The insights given by Silverberg have helped my writing and I wanted to share with the rest of you. Here goes:

1. Suspend Disbelief
Why do you believe Lucas when he says that there is a galaxy far, far away? Because he backs that up with actually showing you that galaxy. He inhabits it with characters that are believable with motivations that are relatable. What’s more the structures and ships he creates look lived in. Which adds to the realism.

“Evoking suspension of disbelief is the basic trick of the trade. ” – Robert Silverberg

2. Use dialogue as a form of exposition
No one wants to read transcripts. It is dull and boring. Anytime the reader comes across a passage with dialogue don’t give them a dull narrative. Rather move the story forward. Perhaps you can reveal a chilling secret from the character’s past. Or perhaps through the recounting of a character’s childhood, you learn more about the world they inhabit. Make sure the information you reveal is needed and will be made use of later on in the story.

3. Have an agile plot with a lot of twists and turns
This one is hard to do. I must admit this is something I am working on in my stories. For now, my stories can be pretty linear. But I am eager to learn and improve my craft. One of the ways you can tell that you have a good plot is if the reader can not put the story down. That means they are being stimulated by the various twists and turns. A good example would be the 2016 election. You know you don’t want to but you are magically drawn to the headlines. You just have to see what the candidates are saying and doing now. What gaffe or incredulous insult was given today? The allure is too great and you are sucked in.

4. Don’t focus on technical competence attain excellence
Don’t write with your brain. Don’t get me wrong keep your brain you need your brain. But don’t rely on it to give you your story. Remember storytelling is a sensual experience. You want to draw the reader in and keep them close. You can do that by tugging their heartstrings. Work on your emotional intelligence, your empathy for others. It is only then that you can tune your heart waves to your readers. Basically, work on being a better human being and the rest will follow!

5. Subplot. A story within a story. Used to keep the main storyline interesting.
Remember your favorite sitcom? There always was a story within a story. The grownups were struggling with their own problems while the kids had their own issues. As viewers, we constantly switched between the two. With each passing scene, the drama grew and grew . Until finally both stories converged in often humorous circumstances. This constant back and forth helped to keep us engaged, adding variety to an otherwise linear narrative. You want to do the same. You can have many subplots all related to each other. To get a better feel for this technique I would recommend the Dune books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

6. Infuse your writing with your culture to stand apart
I have been told that I am of Pakistani heritage. ugh. I hate that term. It is too sterile and cerebral. Do you know that Indians, Bengalis, and Pakistanis self-identify as Desis? Loosely translated Desi means someone from the homeland. Desi culture is loud and vibrant. Go to our weddings, festivals and you will see a common thread of colors and music. But you would never know that if you weren’t part of that culture. That is why it falls upon me to share my culture. Especially today when we are being taught to fear the “other”.

7. Minimalist. Give only those details that impact your character
When I started out, writing my first novel. I was guilty of giving too many details. You see I am a super geek and love reveling in the technical details of my favorite starship or space station. I brought this same enthusiasm to my writing. Which is great as it gets me to write but not so great for the reader who has to learn about the finer points of how my space station is powered by a thermonuclear reactor, housed in its own containment shield that has dual operational modes as well as a host of security….oh boy I did it again didn’t I? Now I know the containment shield is only important when it is failing and our hero must save the day otherwise his crewmates will be irradiated by the ensuing radiation flood.

8. Dialog. Each character with their own voice
Your voice is how you arrange words. The order in which words have used the type of words use all combine to create a voice. It is important that each of your characters have their own voice. That way we know who is speaking just by the dialogue. John Scalzi has a great article on his blog where he shares with us the process by which he developed the voice for zoe. Now Zoe is a young teenage girl going through a traumatic experience. He had to inhabit the heart and mind of a 16-year-old girl. No small feat for a middle-aged man. But he attempted it and kept at it until he got the right mix of words, thus bringing his character to life.

9. Confidence. Nervous and apologetic writers are rarely successful
When I first started writing I suffered from imposter syndrome. “I am not a writer.” “I shouldn’t be wasting my time.” “What would people think?”and so on. All this self-defeating thinking did wonders for my writing. Silverberg’s remedy is to approach writing like you would a lover. There is no need to be nervous or apologetic. You may suck but so what?! You have committed to be with this other person. With each attempt, your skills will grow. So rather than getting frustrated, enjoy the process!

10. Outline. Work out your story ahead of time.
I swear by this technique. Before writing, I always fill out an excel sheet where I plan out each chapter and each scene. I know which characters I want to use and what I want to do. Then I switch over to my manuscript, where it is just a matter of filling in the details. This is also a great way to save your sanity as your creative juices keep pumping. You know what to write next and you just go at it. Don’t be surprised to pump out several hundred words in one sitting!

So there you have it. To learn more be sure to pick-up his book. Above all start incorporating his techniques into your writing. I know I will. It is my humble hope that through this article I can inspire writers to raise the bar. Producing content that will have greater impact. In this day and age when minorities are routinely marginalized it is very precious to hear diverse voices. Let’s be those voices. It is a great service and makes for a better world. So get out there and write!

]]>http://www.islamscifi.com/top-10-tips-for-better-stories/feed/1Khalil – A Pakistani Supermanhttp://www.islamscifi.com/a-pakistani-superman/
http://www.islamscifi.com/a-pakistani-superman/#commentsWed, 14 Sep 2016 16:37:36 +0000http://www.islamscifi.com/?p=2104Continue reading Khalil – A Pakistani Superman]]>When Superman was launch more than 80 years ago it was not just the first comic with a superhero but it was also supposed to be an indirect commentary on the times with the economic depression and fascism rising in Europe and superman being a champion of liberty and justice. Later on the X-men comics dealt with racism as a major subtext. Recent iterations of Superman and other superheros have somewhat moved away from this kind of messaging. This is especially true for the new Superman. However we need not despair, Kumail Rizvi, who is a British Pakistani artist, has reimaged Superman as a Pakistani – imagine if instead of landing in a farm in Kansas Superman’s pod had landed near Karachi in Pakistan. This is the premise of the comic Khalil, as Superman is known in this world. In addition to fighting the social ills of his society Khalil also saves innocent civilians from being accidentally killed by American drones. Thus questions regarding the morality of war creep in. You can read the comic online at the following website: Khalil